Summary

This timely book addresses one of the biggest single problems facing society today -- at-risk behavior in one quarter of our nation's youth -- and provides strategies for prevention and treatment that can be implemented in the schools, in the homes, and by helping professionals in a variety of settings. Whether the term "at-risk" connotes a local school district's problems with child and adolescent suicide and school dropouts, the correction system's concerns about juvenile delinquency, or the health system?s concerns with teen pregnancy, child abuse, and AIDs, the individuals labeled at-risk need the ongoing help of professionals -- and this book can set the stage.

Table of Contents

PART 1 AT-RISK CHILDREN AND YOUTH: THE ECOLOGY OF PROBLEMS

1

(92)

CHAPTER 1 AN INTRODUCTION TO AT-RISK ISSUES: THE TREE

3

(17)

THE SCOPE OF THE PROBLEMS

4

(6)

Facts of an At-Risk Society

5

(1)

Defining the Term At Risk

6

(3)

Blame Poverty and Racism, Not the Victim

9

(1)

CASE STUDY: THE ANDREWS FAMILY

10

(3)

AT-RISK PROBLEMS AND ISSUES

13

(2)

Cause or Effect?

13

(1)

Vulnerable and Underserved

14

(1)

THE AT-RISK TREE, A METAPHOR

15

(3)

CONCLUSION

18

(1)

FURTHER READINGS

18

(2)

CHAPTER 2 ENVIRONMENTAL/SOCIETAL FACTORS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO RISK

20

(18)

THE CHANGING ECONOMY AND POVERTY

22

(4)

Job and Income Loss: Stagnation of the Working Poor

22

(2)

Young Families

24

(1)

Single Mothers

25

(1)

CASE STUDY: THE BAKER FAMILY

26

(3)

Homeless Families

28

(1)

SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS

29

(2)

SES and Health Problems

30

(1)

Parent-Child Relations and SES

31

(1)

SES and At-Risk Categories

31

(1)

AND THE RICH GET RICHER

31

(1)

ENNUI AND PURPOSE

31

(2)

Parenting Networks

32

(1)

Training for Life

32

(1)

MODEST PROPOSALS AND SUGGESTIONS: FAMILY/SCHOOL/COMMUNITY LINK

33

(3)

Child Care

33

(2)

Deficits in Skills

35

(1)

Comprehensive Preschool Programs

35

(1)

CONCLUSION

36

(1)

FURTHER READINGS

36

(2)

CHAPTER 3 FAMILY PROBLEMS OF AT-RISK CHILDREN AND YOUTH

38

(22)

SOCIETAL CHANGES AFFECTING THE FAMILY

39

(2)

Divorce

39

(1)

The Erosion of Extended-Family Networks

40

(1)

CHANGES WITHIN THE FAMILY

41

(4)

The Family Life Cycle

41

(2)

The Family System

43

(2)

CASE STUDY: THE CARTER FAMILY

45

(2)

FAMILY PROBLEMS AND PROBLEM FAMILIES

47

(2)

Stressed Families

47

(1)

Dysfunctional Families

48

(1)

VULNERABLE AND UNDERSERVED FAMILIES

49

(2)

Ethnic Minority Families

49

(1)

Families of Gay and Lesbian Youth

50

(1)

CHILD-REARING PRACTICES

51

(8)

Three Dimensions of Child Rearing

51

(1)

Parental Inconsistency

52

(2)

Clusters of Child-Rearing Behaviors

54

(5)

CONCLUSION

59

(1)

FURTHER READINGS

59

(1)

CHAPTER 4 SCHOOL ISSUES THAT RELATE TO AT-RISK CHILDREN AND YOUTH

60

(18)

THE VALUE OF EDUCATION

61

(3)

RESEARCH ON EFFECTIVE SCHOOLS

64

(1)

Variables in Research on School Effects

64

(1)

Definitional Issues in Research on School Effects

64

(1)

SCHOOL CULTURE

65

(1)

Student Climate

65

(1)

CASE STUDY: THE DIAZ FAMILY

66

(5)

Teacher Climate

70

(1)

EDUCATIONAL STRUCTURE: SCHOOLS AND CLASSROOMS

71

(3)

School Structure

71

(1)

Classroom Structure

72

(2)

PEER GROUP INFLUENCE

74

(2)

CONCLUSION

76

(1)

FURTHER READINGS

77

(1)

CHAPTER 5 INDIVIDUAL CHARACTERISTICS OF HIGH-RISK AND LOW-RISK CHILDREN AND YOUTH

78

(15)

RESILIENCY AND INVULNERABILITY

80

(3)

Development of Resiliency Skills

80

(2)

Common Characteristics of Resiliont Youth

82

(1)

SKILLS THAT CHARACTERIZE HIGH-RISK VERSUS LOW-RISK YOUTH

83

(6)

Critical School Competencies

84

(1)

Concept of Self and Self-Esteem

85

(1)

Communication with Others

86

(1)

Coping Ability

87

(1)

Control

88

(1)

THINGS TO DO TO INCREASE THE FIVE CS

89

(1)

CONCLUSION

90

(2)

FURTHER READINGS

92

(1)

PART 2 AT-RISK CATEGORIES

93

(108)

CHAPTER 6 SCHOOL DROPOUTS

95

(19)

DEFINITIONAL ISSUES OF THE DROPOUT PROBLEM

96

(1)

Literacy Standards

96

(1)

Definition of Dropout

97

(1)

SCOPE AND CHARACTERISTICS OF THE PROBLEM

97

(2)

Differences Between Stayers and Leavers

98

(1)

Exceptional Students

99

(1)

VULNERABLE AND UNDERSERVED STUDENTS

99

(1)

THE ROOTS OF THE DROPOUT PROBLEM

100

(1)

THE CONSEQUENCES OF DROPPING OUT

101

(2)

Economic Consequences

102

(1)

Social Consequences

102

(1)

IDENTIFICATION AND WARNING SIGNS

102

(7)

SECOND-CHANCE PROGRAMS: ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION

109

(3)

CONCLUSION

112

(1)

FURTHER READINGS

113

(1)

CHAPTER 7 SUBSTANCE USE AND ADDICTION

114

(19)

DEFINITIONAL DIFFICULTIES AND ASSESSMENT

116

(2)

THE SCOPE OF THE PROBLEM

116

(1)

Vulnerable and Underserved Youth

117

(1)

SOME DETERMINANTS OF SUBSTANCE USE AND COMMON CHARACTERISTICS OF USERS

118

(5)

Social Correlates of Substance Use

118

(1)

Personal Correlates of Substance Use

119

(4)

Peer Influence on Substance Use

123

(1)

CONSEQUENCES OF SUBSTANCE USE

123

(2)

Physiological Consequences

123

(1)

Physiological Consequences

124

(1)

Legal Consequences

125

(1)

INTERVENTION: PREVENTION AND TREATMENT STRATEGIES

125

(6)

Prevention

126

(1)

Community Treatment

127

(1)

School Treatment

128

(3)

CONCLUSION

131

(1)

FURTHER READINGS

132

(1)

CHAPTER 8 TEENAGE PREGNANCY AND RISKY SEXUAL BEHAVIOR

133

(25)

THE SCOPE OF THE PROBLEM

135

(1)

PRECURSORS OF TEEN PREGNANCY: COMMON BACKGROUND CHARACTERISTICS

136

(4)

Adolescent Development

137

(1)

Antecedent Characteristics

137

(1)

Interpersonal Influences

138

(1)

Media Influences

138

(2)

CONSEQUENCES OF EARLY CHILDBEARING

140

(2)

Socioeconomic Consequences

140

(1)

Educational Consequences

140

(1)

Health-Related Consequences

141

(1)

Family Development

141

(1)

AIDS AND OTHER SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES

142

(1)

Vulnerable and Underserved Youth

143

(1)

PREVENTION AND TREATMENT STRATEGIES: GENERAL FRAMEWORK

143

(3)

Family-Life Planning and Sex Education

144

(1)

Access to Contraceptive Methods

145

(1)

Increased Life Options

145

(1)

PREVENTION AND TREATMENT STRATEGY: AN ADLERIAN MODEL

146

(10)

Purposiveness of Behavior

147

(1)

Goals of Misbehavior

147

(4)

Corrective Procedures

151

(3)

Natural and Logical Consequences

154

(1)

Encouragement

155

(1)

CONCLUSION

156

(1)

FURTHER READINGS

157

(1)

CHAPTER 9 DELINQUENCY AND PROBLEMS OF VIOLENCE

158

(21)

THE SCOPE AND NATURE OF DELINQUENCY, ANTISOCIAL BEHAVIOR, AND VIOLENCE

160

(2)

Family Violence

160

(1)

School Problems

160

(1)

Juvenile Crime

161

(1)

Self-Inflicted Violence

161

(1)

Gang Membership and Violence

161

(1)

THE ORIGINS OF THE PROBLEM

162

(5)

The Ecological Theory of Delinquency

162

(2)

The Developmental Perspective on Delinquency

164

(3)

ASSESSMENT OF ANTISOCIAL BEHAVIOR: RISK FACTORS

167

(3)

Risk Factors in the Family Environment

167

(2)

Risk Factors in the School Environment

169

(1)

Risk Factors in the Social Environment

169

(1)

Risk Factors for Gang Involvement

170

(1)

GENERAL INTERVENTION APPROACHES

170

(2)

Family Intervention and Prevention

170

(1)

School Intervention

171

(1)

Community Intervention

172

(1)

REALITY THERAPY

172

(6)

Assumptions of Reality Therapy

173

(1)

Theoretical Components of Reality Therapy

173

(3)

The Seven Principles of Reality Therapy

176

(2)

CONCLUSION

178

(1)

FURTHER READINGS

178

(1)

CHAPTER 10 YOUTH SUICIDE

179

(22)

THE SCOPE OF THE PROBLEM

181

(2)

Vulnerable and Underserved Youth

181

(2)

CAUSES AND CHARACTERISTICS OF YOUTH SUICIDE

183

(5)

Interpersonal, Family, and Psychosocial Characteristics

183

(2)

Intrapersonal and Psychological Characteristics

185

(3)

IDENTIFICATION AND ASSESSMENT STRATEGIES

188

(2)

Interviews for Suicide Lethality

189

(1)

Self-Report Inventories

189

(1)

COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS OF SUICIDE

190

(1)

WARNING SIGNS OF SUICIDE

191

(2)

Behavioral Changes

191

(1)

Verbal Messages

192

(1)

Cognitive Preoccupations

192

(1)

Depression

193

(1)

PREVENTION

193

(1)

EARLY INTERVENTION, CRISIS MANAGEMENT, AND POSTVENTION

194

(5)

Crisis Management and Response

195

(3)

Postvention and Follow-Up Treatment

198

(1)

CONCLUSION

199

(1)

FURTHER READINGS

199

(2)

PART 3 PREVENTION, INTERVENTION, AND TREATMENT APPROACHES

201

(113)

CHAPTER 11 A PREVENTION/EARLY INTERVENTION/TREATMENT FRAMEWORK AND OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS

203

(17)

A COMPREHENSIVE PREVENTION/EARLY INTERVENTION/TREATMENT FRAMEWORK

204

(9)

Prevention, Treatment, and Risk

204

(1)

History of Prevention Programs

205

(1)

Description of the Framework

205

(1)

The Risk Continuum

206

(1)

The Approach Continuum

207

(2)

The Prevention-Treatment Continuum

209

(1)

Environmental Settings

209

(4)

PRACTICAL CONSIDERATIONS

213

(2)

Cost

213

(1)

Counselor/Psychologist/Teacher Interface

214

(1)

ADDITIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES

215

(3)

Relationships

215

(1)

Empowerment

216

(1)

Social Activism

217

(1)

CONCLUSION

218

(1)

FURTHER READINGS

219

(1)

CHAPTER 12 CORE COMPONENTS OF PROGRAMS FOR PREVENTION AND EARLY INTERVENTION